Our country has seen unprecedented progress for LGBTQ young people during the last eight years. From Franklin County High School (TN) students asserting their right to form a Gay-Straight Alliance club, the Valley Central School Board’s (NY) public stance in support of transgender students, or the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education’s Title IX guidance calling on our nation’s public schools to protect and provide for transgender students equally.

Despite this progress, 85% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed and 56% report experiencing discriminatory policies and practices at school.

The next President will lead our country for at least the next four years. They will set Department of Education policy and push forth legislative ideals that will have a direct impact on the lives of LGBTQ students -- most of whom will be too young to even vote in the election.

What progress will be made towards ensuring LGBTQ students have safe and affirming schools? What specific proposals is each candidate offering for LGBTQ young people?

Sign on to GLSEN’s Letter to the Next President to call on every candidate to take a public stance in support of LGBTQ young people and to put forth proposals toward ensuring them safe and affirming schools.

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Monday, September 26, 2016

Dear (Potential) Next President,

While you prepare to take the stage tonight for the first Presidential Debate, tens of thousands of K-12 students are participating in GLSEN's Ally Week activities across the country. Ally Week is a national dialogue about how we can each be better allies to LGBTQ young people.

We write you today to ask, "How will you be an ally to LGBTQ students if elected President?"

From Franklin County High School students asserting and winning their right to form a Gay-Straight Alliance club, to the Valley Central School Board's public stance in support of transgender students, and the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education Title IX guidance calling on our nation's public schools to protect and provide for transgender students equally, we have seen unprecedented progress on LGBTQ rights.

Despite this progress, 85% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed in school and 56% report experiencing discriminatory school policies and practices.

Should you win the election, your administration will shape Department of Education policies and push forth legislative ideals that will have a direct impact on the lives of LGBTQ students -- most of whom will have been too young to have voted for your election.

The thousands of signatures to this letter are from students, educators, parents, GLSEN Chapter leaders and community advocates alike, all requesting your allyship through public support for LGBTQ young people and policy proposals on how you will ensure safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ students.

We offer research-based solutions as strategies toward positively impacting the lives of LGBTQ students. We call on your campaign to come out in support of these solutions publicly during tonight's Presidential Debate.

Will you be an ally to LGBTQ young people?

We hope you will join us in elevating the conversation on the needs of LGBTQ young people.

Sincerely,

GLSEN and You

Please check each solution you want candidates to support:

Supportive Educators

LGBTQ students need supportive educators in schools.
Students need educators who listen to them, affirm their identities, intervene in name-calling and bullying, post GLSEN’s Safe Space stickers and posters, and ensure access to local LGBTQ resources. How would your administration ensure America’s classrooms are a place where LGBTQ, and all, students can reach their full potential?

LGBTQ-Inclusive Curricula

All students deserve accurate and inclusive portrayals of LGBTQ lives in school curricula.
From history classes to evidence-based sex education programs, LGBTQ students deserve to see positive portrayals of themselves throughout school curricula. How would your administration set new national standards for LGBTQ-inclusive curricula?

Non-Discrimination Policies

LGBTQ students in schools with comprehensive and LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policies perform better in class.
All students deserve safe and affirming learning environments, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We must pay particular attention to the rights and needs of transgender and gender nonconforming students, who face high levels of victimization and discrimination at school. How would your administration apply federal non-discrimination policies to schools receiving public funding?

GSAs and Other Leadership Opportunities

Students have the right to organize student clubs, such as Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA). Student Clubs provide LGBTQ students safe spaces to find friends and allies, and to build leadership skills while working to improve their school environment. How would your administration defend the rights of LGBTQ students to form extracurricular clubs, as provided under the Equal Access Act?